MATTHEW ROBERT CHRISTENSEN

CHRISTENSEN, MATTHEW ROBERT May 8, 1972 – October 31, 2021 On October 31, 2021, our cherished Matthew suddenly passed, on Maui, HI. He is survived by his wife Cara (Thibault), mother Jennifer (Hamilton), father Robert, brother Marcus, sister-in-law Kara and his adoring nephew, Chase. Matthew was a generous and genuinely caring human being who will be so missed by his family, friends, skiing community and colleagues. Matt had an impact on everyone with whom he crossed paths, especially those within the freestyle skiing community and at Red Bull where he worked for the past 11 years. He was a skilled connector of people and was famous for bringing friends and colleagues together to enhance both their and his social circles. He was in constant communication with his brother Marcus, wherever he happened to be travelling the globe. One of Matthew's most endearing traits will always be remembered in his ability to connect with those within all five decades of his short life. He spent his childhood in the 70s in Guelph, Ontario, and then his adolescent years, the 80s, in Toronto. In his late teens he joined the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team and continued to represent Canada throughout the 2000s; during this time, he flourished as an aerialist after becoming Canadian Ballet Freestyle Champion. After a successful competitive career at the world level as an aerialist, he moved to Park City, Utah. One of Matt's major life accomplishments included the title, Head Coach, US Olympic Freestyle Ski Team (Aerials) for 3 Olympic Games – Salt Lake City, Torino, and Vancouver. In this capacity he proudly brought his many athletes to their personal best, including podium medals. He was also awarded the USSA Coach of the Year before finishing his fourth decade. In 2010 he moved to Santa Monica where he began his next decade at Red Bull, as Athlete Performance Program Manager. This proved to be both an exciting and challenging position where again he developed many friendships, worldwide. At the same time, he married his best friend, Cara Thibault, and built his dream life on Maui, where he surfed or ran or biked hard, depending on the waves! This amazing man was a magnet to people, an unforgettable personality as both loved and loving. One will always remember his fun-loving nature at all gatherings. He lived life his way, sometimes simply, often outrageously. He will be greatly missed by so many and will live in our hearts forever. A Celebration of Matt's Life will take place at the Granite Club, Toronto, on November 30, 2021. Due to the limited capacity of the venue, we ask those interested in attending to please RSVP via matthewgraniteclub@gmail.com by November 22nd, indicating the number of people in your party. Personal messages and video clips are welcomed and encouraged, using the same email address. Room and time will be provided via an email response. Donations in memory of Matt can be made to the Ian Walsh Foundation by following this GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/b66a53f5